Prayers For Lexicon Steve

[dumbledore11214]

Lwilliams:
<SNIP>
Yes, if a big corporation goes after the little guy, the little guy is
usually right...just like with the Harry Potter castle. Honestly, 
where
exactly is the difference that allows you to judge the two so
differently. You've already stated it isn't the law, so what is it?
<SNIP>

Alla:

No, I did not say that the difference isn't the law. I said that I 
believe that WB and JKR should have backed off that lawsuit even 
though I think that one was legally right too.

The castle would not have been a money maker the way this book would 
be for Steve, therefore I think that even though the action was not 
frivolous, it is just bad public relationships to go after charity 
which puts up a castle for the time of festival.

But putting what is basically JKR's creation and not even 
interpreting it in the book and making money on it – big difference 
to me.

And moreover saying that since JKR allowed the website to exist, the 
book is okay as well? The website is FREE, the book is not, I am 
amazed that this argument is even brought up.

Therefore yes, I believe that this little guy is very wrong in this 
situation.

If Steve wins and many other authors will decide that they should 
exercise much stricter control over their creations, well I would 
totally understand that.

And yes, it makes a huge difference if author is not happy with 
people writing fanfiction for example in his universe.

Of course he cannot take every fan to court or forbid everything, but 
I think that a lot of people will not write fanfiction simply out of 
respect for the writer. 

I brought example of Guy Gavriel Kay at some point. He states clearly 
on his website that he cannot approve of fanfiction writing because 
of potential copyright problems.

Do you know how many stories I found about his books? Something like 
TEN. Compare this with thousands of stories about HP on 
fanfiction.net only. I think the fact that JKR approves of fanfiction 
makes a huge difference in how many people are willing to do it, if 
nothing else.

Maybe I will be able to find few other stories in his universes on 
another site somewhere, but I think the quantative difference is huge.